“A Brexit would be a loss for Britain and EU,” said European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)

The British referendum on whether to remain in the European Union must not prevent other member states from pursuing further integration, regardless of the outcome of Thursday’s vote, European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said on Monday.

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“A Brexit would be a loss for Britain and the EU. That’s why I hope the British will vote to stay,” Moscovici told a conference organised by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, a political foundation linked to Germany’s Social Democrats.

Moscovici, who is France’s commissioner and is responsible for EU Economic and Monetary Affairs, also said: “I’m truly convinced, whatever happens on June 23, we have to be proactive.”
The EU won’t be the same after the vote, regardless of the outcome, Moscovici said, adding: “It must not prevent the others from going further … We must move on.”